Market sector expansion planned by new head of Bayleys in Kerikeri

Growing the capabilities of real estate sales people in the Bay of Islands, Kerikeri and Far North regions, along with increasing personnel resources, are two of the key aims for the new head of property agency Bayleys in Kerikeri, Chester Rendell.

Chester said that over the long-term, Northland had a positive and sustainable future on a number of fronts – most notably in the tourism and primary production sectors.

“Northland, like most of New Zealand, is in the early stages of recovery from the global recession. While the past couple of years have been hard going for a number of businesses and individuals in the region, we are seeing more and more signs of a slow but sure recovery which economists are predicting will continue at this rate for some years to come,” he said.

“Bayleys has a similar view of that economic growth, which is why we are ramping up our presence and activity now - so we are up and running to make the most of that upturn as it gathers momentum.”

Chester first joined the Bayleys brand 14 years ago when he specialised in the marketing and selling of waterfront, lifestyle, hospitality and tourism properties and businesses.

Some 12 years ago Chester, joined by his sales agent wife Louise, focussed on to the Pacific Islands - predominately Fiji where they specialised in resort sales, islands and latterly residential resort developments.

The Rendells returned to Paihia in the Bay of Islands in 2008 where they have owned a family home for nearly 30 years. Louise is continuing to sell real estate in the Bay of Islands based from their Paihia home office.

At Bayleys Kerikeri, Chester replaces Jill White who was manager of Bayleys Kerikeri since early 2008.
Chester said that in tandem with the gradual but steady economic recovery throughout the wider Northland region, Bayleys was looking to grow its presence across all sectors of the real estate market – residential, commercial and rural.

Part of this strategy would involve the recruitment of additional sales people at the Bayleys Kerikeri office – some of whom would work remotely from towns throughout the Far North.

“I want good experienced sales people right now but I’m also happy to take on people new to the industry, as Bayleys has brilliant in-house training programmes that will make successful sales people,” says Chester, “so if there are sales people in the industry now who feel that have potential to grow but can’t see the pathway with their existing agency, I’d encourage them to call me.

“Bayleys has traditionally dominated the high-value end of the residential market in Northland – particularly waterfront properties and lifestyle blocks. We are now looking at offering that same leading-edge marketing expertise and brand recognition to properties in the middle price brackets,” Chester said.
Successfully selling a bigger proportion of Northland commercial real estate – including retail premises, hospitality operations, warehouses, and light industrial buildings – is also a priority for Chester in his new role.

“There is a lot of business to be undertaken in the Far North for example. Commercial real estate investments are no longer regionally-constrained, so whereas before a retail site in Kerikeri or Kaitaia was most likely owned by someone in the town or a wealthy local farmer, that same site is now just as likely to be owned by an investor in Auckland or Wellington,” he said.

Similarly, productive rural land being placed on the market for sale would also come in for greater attention from Bayleys – an agency with a strong presence and buyer database in the ‘engine rooms’ of New Zealand’s premier rural regions, including the Waikato, King Country, Taranaki, Wairarapa, Manawatu, Canterbury and Southland.

“The company’s founder, Graham Bayley, was a King Country farmer before he got into real estate, so the firm’s roots are firmly planted in the rural sector,” Chester said.

“As an agency, Bayleys has a dedicated rural team nationwide. That’s important for vendors wanting to showcase their property to the widest potential buyer audience to ensure the best price is achieved.

“The days of marketing within a geographic region are long gone. Now it’s all about presenting a property to the widest possible network of potential buyers. That’s the strength which Bayleys delivers through its national presence from Northland to Southland.”

Chester said property vendors in the Mid North and Far North would also benefit from dealing with a company profiling expertise across the entire gamut of the real estate markets.

“A number of the big-name real estate agencies specialise in just one property sector – usually residential. However, only Bayleys encompasses all three disciplines – being the biggest agency in all of the commercial, rural and high-end residential sectors,” Chester said.